8. Collaborative Relationships

The competent teacher builds and maintains collaborative relationships to foster cognitive, linguistic, physical, and social and emotional development. This teacher works as a team member with professional colleagues, students, parents or guardians, and community members.

Artifact 1

Faith and Social Studies 

i. The artifact is a reflection on the relation between faith and social studies. In this reflection, I have shared my personal beliefs and how religion may fit within people’s cultures around the world. I have also highlighted the significance of teaching students about different religions and cultures to help them grow in understanding empathy and diversity. This artifact was produced as a part of my journey to becoming a teacher, as I believe it is important to have a clear understanding of my own beliefs and how they relate to my future classroom. I wrote this reflection to not only solidify my own thoughts but to also inspire others to think about the connection between faith and social studies.

ii. This artifact, "Faith and Social Studies," showcases my understanding of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards Standard 8: Collaborative Relationships. Specifically, this artifact addresses Standard 8D) understands the benefits, barriers, and techniques involved in parent and family collaborations; and 8E) understands school- and work-based learning environments and the need for collaboration with all organizations (e.g., businesses, community agencies, nonprofit organizations) to enhance student learning.

In this reflection, I discuss the importance of incorporating religion and different cultures into social studies classes. I argue that teaching about religion can help students understand diversity and empathy, which are critical for living in an increasingly interconnected world. However, I also recognize that discussing religion in a public school setting can be a sensitive topic, and it's important to be mindful of the diversity of students and families.

I believe that the most effective way to incorporate Christian values and virtues in the classroom is through actions rather than words. I explain that by showing empathy towards students, praising their achievements, and being present at their special events, teachers can establish healthy relationships with their students that reflect Christian values.

In conclusion, this artifact demonstrates my understanding of the importance of valuing diversity in the classroom and the significance of incorporating religious studies into social studies classes. It also highlights my progress towards meeting Standard 8 by emphasizing the importance of respecting and valuing the diversity of students and families, and incorporating Christian values and virtues into teaching through actions.

iii. In this artifact, I reflect on the relationship between faith and social studies in my life and how it can be incorporated into my future classroom. I learned that religion can help students understand diversity and empathy, which are important skills for the real world. However, bringing religion into classroom discussions in a public school setting may be sensitive and it's important to act in a Christian-like manner through kind deeds and actions towards students. I believe that instilling Christian values and virtues in students through my actions will have a greater impact on their lives than discussing religion directly in class.

Artifact 2

Greeting to Parents Email 

i. The artifact is a letter that I wrote to the parents of 6th grade students. It contains information about myself, Zachary Maher, and my opportunity to be their children's student teacher for 8 weeks. The letter also includes my background and education, as well as my future career aspirations. I produced the letter to introduce myself to the parents and express my gratitude for the opportunity to learn and grow from their children and their teacher, Mr. Hankin.

ii. The artifact I shared is a letter introducing myself as a student teacher to the parents of 6th grade students. This artifact demonstrates my understanding of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards standard 8 Collaborative Relationships. This standard emphasizes the importance of building positive and effective relationships with students, families, and colleagues to support student learning. In my letter, I expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn and grow from both the students and their teacher, Mr. Hankin. This shows evidence of my understanding of the importance of collaborative relationships with colleagues as a means of improving my own teaching practices. Additionally, I acknowledged the parents as important partners in their children's education, demonstrating my understanding of the importance of building positive relationships with families to support student learning. In Standard 8P) develops professional relationships with parents and guardians that result in fair and equitable treatment of each student to support growth and learning; 8Q) establishes respectful and productive relationships with parents or guardians and seeks to develop cooperative partnerships to promote student learning and well-being. By introducing myself and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to work with the students and Mr. Hankin, I have taken a first step towards building positive relationships with both the students and their families, which is crucial to effective teaching and learning. This artifact shows my progress towards meeting the standard 8 Collaborative Relationships, and my commitment to building positive relationships with colleagues, students, and their families.

iii. I wrote a letter to the 6th Grade Parents introducing myself as their children's student teacher for the next 8 weeks. I shared information about myself, including my background, studies, and interests. I created this artifact as part of my learning and development as a teacher, and it is important because it shows my ability to establish collaborative relationships with students and families, which is a crucial aspect of effective teaching. In my future classroom, I plan to continue building strong relationships with my students and their families, as I believe it is essential for creating a positive and supportive learning environment.